Harris Savides
Harris Savides | |
---|---|
![]() Savides in 2008 | |
Born | New York City, New York, U.S. | September 28, 1957
Died | October 9, 2012 New York City, New York, U.S. | (aged 55)
Alma mater | School of Visual Arts |
Years active | 1980–2012 |
Harris Savides ASC (/səˈviːdɪs/; Greek: Χάρης Σαββίδης; September 28, 1957 – October 9, 2012)[1] was an American cinematographer.
He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography for the Ridley Scott crime thriller American Gangster (2007).
Early life
[edit]Savides was born in New York City, to parents of Greek Cypriot origin, Eleni, a clerical worker, and Savas Savides, a short-order cook.[1][2]
He graduated with a degree in photography and film from the School of Visual Arts.[3][4]
Career
[edit]Savides started as a key grip in the documentary Fist of Fear, Touch of Death from the 1980.
On TV, Savides served as a cinematographer on a TV short film entitled The Investigator (1994) directed by Matthew Tabak and a TV movie Lake Consequence (1993) directed by Rafael Eisenman.[5]
His first solo job as a cinematographer was on the thriller Heaven's Prisoners (1996).[3]
Savides was a frequent colaborator of Gus Van Sant, working in six of his films.
After working in the opening title sequence of Seven[6], Savides worked two more times with David Fincher, in The Game and Zodiac, which the letter was shot mostly with digital cameras.
Savides worked on a short film directed by Wong Kar Wai for BMW's "The Hire" film series, entitled The Follow[7]. Savides also worked Martin Scorsese's short film The Key to Reserva, as a homage to Alfred Hitchcock.[8]
With director John Hillcoat, Savides worked in a series of Levi's commercials for their "To Work" advertising campaign.[9]
Savides also worked on two films directed by Sofia Coppola, with The Bling Ring being his final project before his death.
Music videos
[edit]Savides was the cinematographer on a number of well-known music videos directed by Mark Romanek including Michael Jackson's Scream, Madonna's Rain and Bedtime Story, Fiona Apple's Criminal, and Nine Inch Nails' Closer.
He has also served as cinematographer on the music videos for The Rolling Stones' "Like A Rolling Stone", Chris Isaak's Blue Spanish Sky, and R.E.M.'s Everybody Hurts.
Savides is the only person to date that has won three MTV Video Music Awards for Best Cinematography in a Music Video (for Madonna's "Rain", Fiona Apple's "Criminal" and R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts") and the only person to win two in a row (for "Rain" by Madonna and "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M.)[4]
Style
[edit]Savides was known for the very delicate images that he created for The Yards and Birth. In both instances he underexposed the filmstock by several stops in order to break up the colors and give the blacks a purplish and brownish tint. This non-conventional approach leads to a look that resembles the paintings of Georges de La Tour and Caravaggio.[10]
For the visual style of Somewhere, Sofia Coppola discussed Bruce Weber's Hollywood portraits and Helmut Newton's of models at the Chateau Marmont, and Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975), the film by Chantal Akerman about the routine of a Belgian housewife, with Savides. Savides said, "The main thing was to tell the story really simply and let it play out in long beats and have the audience discover the moment."[11] Coppola used the lenses that her father had filmed Rumble Fish (1983) with in an effort to give the film a more period look, although it is set in the present.[12]
Personal life and death
[edit]Savides lived in Manhattan with his wife Medine, and daughter Sophie.
He died from brain cancer, at age 55.[1]
Filmography
[edit]TV movies
Year | Title | Director |
---|---|---|
1993 | Lake Consequence | Rafael Eisenman |
1994 | The Investigator | Matthew Tabak |
Feature film
Year | Title | Director |
---|---|---|
1996 | Heaven's Prisoners | Phil Joanou |
1997 | The Game | David Fincher |
1998 | Illuminata | John Turturro |
2000 | The Yards | James Gray |
Finding Forrester | Gus Van Sant | |
2002 | Gerry | |
2003 | Elephant | |
2004 | Birth | Jonathan Glazer |
2005 | Last Days | Gus Van Sant |
2007 | Zodiac | David Fincher |
Margot at the Wedding | Noah Baumbach | |
American Gangster | Ridley Scott | |
2008 | Milk | Gus Van Sant |
2009 | Whatever Works | Woody Allen |
2010 | Greenberg | Noah Baumbach |
Somewhere | Sofia Coppola | |
2011 | Restless | Gus Van Sant |
2013 | The Bling Ring[a] | Sofia Coppola |
- ^ Shared credit with Christopher Blauvelt (Posthumous release)
Short film
Year | Title | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | The Follow | Wong Kar-wai | Segment of The Hire |
2007 | The Key to Reserva | Martin Scorsese |
Music video
Awards and nominations
[edit]BAFTA Awards
Year | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Best Cinematography | American Gangster | Nominated | [13] |
Independent Spirit Awards
Year | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Best Cinematography | Gerry | Nominated | [14] |
2004 | Elephant | Nominated | [15] | |
2005 | Last Days | Nominated | [16] | |
2008 | Milk | Nominated | [17] | |
2010 | Greenberg | Nominated | [18] | |
2012 | Special Distinction Award | Won | [19] |
New York Film Critics Circle
Year | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Best Cinematography | Gerry | Won | [20] |
2003 | Elephant | Won |
International Cinephile Society
Year | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | Best Cinematography | Elephant | Won | [21] |
Birth | Nominated |
National Society of Film Critics
Year | Category | Title | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Best Cinematography | Elephant | Nominated |
2010 | Somewhere | Nominated |
Other awards
Year | Association | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association | Best Cinematography | Elephant | Nominated | |
2007 | Satellite Award | Best Cinematography | Zodiac | Nominated | |
Clio Award | Beverages / Alcohol | The Key to Reserva | Won | [22] | |
2008 | Houston Film Critics Society | Best Cinematography | Milk | Nominated | |
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association | Best Cinematography | Nominated | |||
2011 | Camerimage | Camerimage Cinematographer-Director Duo Award | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Weber, Bruce Harris Savides, Visual Poet, Dies at 55 New York Times, October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- ^ Joanna Varikos, Cinematographer Harris Savides, 55, Passes Away, http://hollywood.greekreporter.com/2012/10/11/cinematographer-harris-savides-55-passes-away/
- ^ a b Jay A. Hernandez, 'Zodiac,' 'Milk' and 'American Gangster' Cinematographer Harris Savides Has Died at Age 55, http://www.indiewire.com/article/zodiac-milk-and-american-gangster-cinematographer-harris-savides-dies
- ^ a b "Harris Savides - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ "Harris Savides | Cinematographer, Camera and Electrical Department, Actor". IMDb. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ The Essentials: The Works of Harris Savides, http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-essentials-our-favorite-work-by-cinematographer-harris-savides-20121011
- ^ The Follow (2001) - IMDb, retrieved December 21, 2023
- ^ The Key to Reserva, Official Film Page, http://www.scorsesefilmfreixenet.com/video_eng.htm
- ^ "The Essentials:The Works Of Harris Savides | The Playlist". blogs.indiewire.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012.
- ^ Chiaroscuro – From Caravaggio to Harris Savides, http://cdn.halcyonrealms.com/film/chiaroscuro-from-carravagio-to-harris-savides/
- ^ Lim, Dennis It’s What She Knows: The Luxe Life New York Times, December 10, 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
- ^ Linda Barnard (January 8, 2011). "Interview: Sofia Coppola". Toronto Star. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
- ^ "Film in 2008". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ ""Far From Heaven" Sweeps 2003 Independent Spirit Awards". IndieWire. March 22, 2003. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "American Beauties". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "'Whale' of a day at Spirits". Variety. November 29, 2005. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "2009 Spirit Award nominations list". Variety. December 2, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "Winners Announced For 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards". CBS News. February 26, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "'Silver Linings,' 'Moonrise Kingdom' Lead Spirit Award Nominations". IndieWire. November 27, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "Far From Heaven tops New York critics awards". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "Harris Savides - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ "Martin Scorsese Brings "Lost" Hitchcock Film to Screen in Short Faux Documentary". Open Culture. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
External links
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